Very lovely day. Hot & thundery in afternoon.

First list of casualties in the paper this morning, only naval list, result of the battle of the Bight of Heligoland Battle of Heligoland.

A very smart piece of work on the part of our ships, they seemed to have enticed the German ships out of the harbour, & then attacked them. One of their cruisers sunk after one shot from one of our Dreadnoughts.

Lecture at Tavistock on operations for shell wounds.

When we got home and found a small tennis party, Newmans, Drews,Tregonings. A great deal of baby worship went on with Dorothea Juliana was inclined to be fretting the sultry weather had upset her.

It was such a perfect night, & so warm. The clouds had quite cleared off, the moon nearly full, we set out on the terrace until bedtime, not a breath of wind, & no sound except an occasional hoot of an owl.

Strange news from an untrustworthy source is that some Russians had landed in Scotland, & are coming across to Ostend to help our army & prevent the Germans cutting off our communication with the sea.

The account of the sack of Louvain “Rape of Belgium” reads much like the warfare of the middle ages. It is too horrible for words. I hope that if we ever get the upper hand that we shall show the Germans how towns of that sort should be treated & thus heap coals of fire on their heads.